(The Center Square) – Cook County officials are looking at expanding a guaranteed-income pilot program, but a Chicago Republican is asking where the money will go.
The Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot provides unconditional $500 monthly cash to 3,250 low-income households from December 2022 through December 2024. According to the county, 58% of the program’s households include children.
The money comes from federal taxpayers via the American Rescue Plan Act.
The county is holding a series of four Community Voices meetings to solicit input from residents on the future distribution of ARPA funds. The last of the meetings is scheduled on Sept. 11.
County officials also encouraged residents to complete an online survey about ARPA funding.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle supports the guaranteed income program.
“Decades of research shows that people spend cash benefits wisely, leading to more financial stability as well as improved physical, emotional and social outcomes,” Preckwinkle said in a statement.
Lupe Castillo is the Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois’ Fourth District. Castillo wondered who the benefactors would be if the guaranteed-income program expands.
“We have people in our city and in our county that are coming in. Are they going to be the ones getting into this money?” Castillo asked.
Castillo said elderly people in Chicago are struggling.
“Senior citizens, I think, need it more than anyone else. They’re on a fixed income, and they’re struggling to pay their bills and trying to buy their food and trying to buy their medicine. Who are the people that are going to be getting this $500 every month?” Castillo asked.
Cook County is also seeking input on its Medical Debt Relief Initiative, which is also funded by ARPA money from federal taxpayers.
Castillo said the debt-relief money should not go to everyone and anyone who asks for it.
“Yes, people are on Medicare. Once again, I’m sorry to sound like I’m one-sided on the elderly, but I see them struggling,” Castillo said.
Federal taxpayers are not the only ones covering medical debt in Illinois.
Earlier this year, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 5290, which dedicated approximately $10 million of state taxpayers’ money to purchase outstanding medical debt, with the goal of erasing nearly $1 billion of medical debt.
The governor tweeted this week that “Illinois is erasing nearly $1 billion of medical debt for our residents. And we’re making sure it’s not included on your credit report.”
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